Breaking in
Junior Member
Joined: 07-24-08
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Dearborn, MI
Ring wear in, and break-in is not a subject that you unravel with a "quick search". Suffice it to say, which makes more sense?
In cooking you temper things to the correct temperature. Nobody came along and magically discovered that you could shock eggs to the right temperature without curdling them.
What gains do you see from this hard break in? Where is the substantiated proof? Your theory is trying to disprove the status quo, so you have the burden of proof. With a light break-in I know for a fact you can have a car for more than ten years without needing an engine rework. What does a hard break in do?
Now I'm being a dick. Basically the argument is this. Don't read some dumb article online and throw around its nonsensical terms and act like it's a proven fact. Engine vacuum...HAH!
You get a 25k dollar car and beat it to hell and I'll baby mine, you may get 3hp more, but we'll see which one lasts longer.
In cooking you temper things to the correct temperature. Nobody came along and magically discovered that you could shock eggs to the right temperature without curdling them.
What gains do you see from this hard break in? Where is the substantiated proof? Your theory is trying to disprove the status quo, so you have the burden of proof. With a light break-in I know for a fact you can have a car for more than ten years without needing an engine rework. What does a hard break in do?
Now I'm being a dick. Basically the argument is this. Don't read some dumb article online and throw around its nonsensical terms and act like it's a proven fact. Engine vacuum...HAH!
You get a 25k dollar car and beat it to hell and I'll baby mine, you may get 3hp more, but we'll see which one lasts longer.
See now this is the type of arguements i like. PS i'd say you got the nail on the head.
Junior Member
Joined: 07-24-08
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Dearborn, MI
not tryin to confuse you. in order to get the most power i'd run it hard. in order to make it last the longest i'd say run it easy. i personally think straight up abuse would be the only way to really damage a new engine. and for someone to really kill one they would literally need to NOT know how to drive, or leave a thermostat hose clamp off 
Member
Joined: 05-26-08
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Twinsburg, OH
not tryin to confuse you. in order to get the most power i'd run it hard. in order to make it last the longest i'd say run it easy. i personally think straight up abuse would be the only way to really damage a new engine. and for someone to really kill one they would literally need to NOT know how to drive, or leave a thermostat hose clamp off
To that end, addressing the OP now, if you're like me you want to follow the manufacture's instructions for your car and like someone said earlier, treat your car like it's a 30,000 dollar expense, because it is.
Banned
Joined: 07-23-08
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 0
From: East Lansing(MSU COUNTRY)
not tryin to confuse you. in order to get the most power i'd run it hard. in order to make it last the longest i'd say run it easy. i personally think straight up abuse would be the only way to really damage a new engine. and for someone to really kill one they would literally need to NOT know how to drive, or leave a thermostat hose clamp off
Heard the new ZR1s are spiffy!
Thread Starter
New Member
Joined: 08-14-08
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Victorville, CA
I have 2 ZR1's.......
That's a lie. But I think Ill just break mine in gradually, every 400 miles or so, pushing it just a little bit harder than before. The car is going to be fast no matter what. And I do want my car to last longer. I just like to go fast, I am not in a competition to have the fastest Cobalt on earth.
And cougar, I am looking forward to watching the next Special Olympics. I'm sure you will do great I'm not claiming to know a lot, but it seems you got an new ******* torn into you, and then you tried to turn tables or some ****. Who knows.
That's a lie. But I think Ill just break mine in gradually, every 400 miles or so, pushing it just a little bit harder than before. The car is going to be fast no matter what. And I do want my car to last longer. I just like to go fast, I am not in a competition to have the fastest Cobalt on earth.
And cougar, I am looking forward to watching the next Special Olympics. I'm sure you will do great
I'm not claiming to know a lot, but it seems you got an new ******* torn into you, and then you tried to turn tables or some ****. Who knows.
Banned
Joined: 07-23-08
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 0
From: East Lansing(MSU COUNTRY)
I have 2 ZR1's.......
That's a lie. But I think Ill just break mine in gradually, every 400 miles or so, pushing it just a little bit harder than before. The car is going to be fast no matter what. And I do want my car to last longer. I just like to go fast, I am not in a competition to have the fastest Cobalt on earth.
And cougar, I am looking forward to watching the next Special Olympics. I'm sure you will do great I'm not claiming to know a lot, but it seems you got an new ******* torn into you, and then you tried to turn tables or some ****. Who knows.
That's a lie. But I think Ill just break mine in gradually, every 400 miles or so, pushing it just a little bit harder than before. The car is going to be fast no matter what. And I do want my car to last longer. I just like to go fast, I am not in a competition to have the fastest Cobalt on earth.
And cougar, I am looking forward to watching the next Special Olympics. I'm sure you will do great
I'm not claiming to know a lot, but it seems you got an new ******* torn into you, and then you tried to turn tables or some ****. Who knows.
Junior Member
Joined: 07-24-08
Posts: 411
Likes: 0
From: Dearborn, MI
but i also do not own a Cobalt SS....yet
I did get put in my place today...
i have been told by alot of people and read quite a bit on engine break-in procedures.
with that said. i trust SAE over some damn books. haha.
Member
Joined: 08-15-08
Posts: 227
Likes: 0
From: East CFL
My $0.02
Basically don't baby it, don't beat it. Unless you're the kind of person who drives like a road-raging a$$h0le -- drive the car normally. Some boost, some cruising, not too much time in the upper rev range or under high load (ie, near or above 100mph). Shorter trips are preferable to heat cycle the engine materials and tires (heat tempering was mentioned earlier in the thread).
If I'm recall, this ^^^ would be the Cliff's Notes version of what the manual says.
Basically don't baby it, don't beat it. Unless you're the kind of person who drives like a road-raging a$$h0le -- drive the car normally. Some boost, some cruising, not too much time in the upper rev range or under high load (ie, near or above 100mph). Shorter trips are preferable to heat cycle the engine materials and tires (heat tempering was mentioned earlier in the thread).
If I'm recall, this ^^^ would be the Cliff's Notes version of what the manual says.
Member
Joined: 05-26-08
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Twinsburg, OH
Just checking in on this thread now that I actually have the car. While I know that I'm taking it easy for a good reason, in practice not mashing on the pedal may be the greatest feat of self control I've even undertaken.
Haven't gone over 4k so far, once I get to 500 and oil change I'll push a little harder.
Haven't gone over 4k so far, once I get to 500 and oil change I'll push a little harder.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-11-08
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 1
From: The Mogadishu of the Midwest
I sat down with a GM powertrain engineer and was told the complete opposite of what you are telling people on here. I also had him drive my car in order to show me proper break in procedure.
Give the engine light loads and run it slowly up to 3-5k rpm and let it slowly come back down. Keep it out of boost for the first 500 miles.
Member
Joined: 05-26-08
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Twinsburg, OH
I bought my car from you, but you are spouting complete bullshit.
I sat down with a GM powertrain engineer and was told the complete opposite of what you are telling people on here. I also had him drive my car in order to show me proper break in procedure.
Give the engine light loads and run it slowly up to 3-5k rpm and let it slowly come back down. Keep it out of boost for the first 500 miles.
I sat down with a GM powertrain engineer and was told the complete opposite of what you are telling people on here. I also had him drive my car in order to show me proper break in procedure.
Give the engine light loads and run it slowly up to 3-5k rpm and let it slowly come back down. Keep it out of boost for the first 500 miles.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-26-08
Posts: 3,420
Likes: 3
From: Somewhere, MI
Depends on the car maker nowadays, my friends Infiniti G37 had a break in of like 1,200 miles.
Senior Member
Joined: 06-11-08
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 1
From: The Mogadishu of the Midwest
I managed to follow the above procedure and was rewarded with 27.5 mpg city.
Banned
Joined: 02-23-08
Posts: 5,881
Likes: 1
From: SI,NYC
LIEES!!! well.... maybe just impossible in nyc.... lol maybe true for elsewhere
Last edited by chevy cobalt 08; Sep 9, 2008 at 01:25 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
Banned
Joined: 07-23-08
Posts: 1,237
Likes: 0
From: East Lansing(MSU COUNTRY)
Lets clear some **** up straight from the Owners manual...not word for word cuz Im going off memory.. but close enough to quote-
in bigger, bold font- "This car does not have an extensive break in period"
"Do not drive the car any one speed, fast or slow for long periods of time."
"Do not brake hard, as this may form permanent groves in your rotor causing premature brake pad wear"
That was about it.
NO WHERE in the owners manual, does it list a numerical # of miles that you must drive to break the car in.
Of course, they assume most people able to afford/drive this car are not complete.. I say..complete morons...and you should not redline from day one.
I just hit 500 miles on my 09 SS today! up until this point, my car didn't see over 4k RPMs. Coming home today however, I had a very very long entrance ramp to the interstate, with a very long straight away... and it was clear. I took 2nd and 3rd gear up to about 5k RPMs and 4th to about 4K. Thats most I have gotten on it.
After 500 miles, I would say taking your car to the track is fair game and not going to hurt it anymore than racing a car normally would.
Drag racing> your car.
in bigger, bold font- "This car does not have an extensive break in period"
"Do not drive the car any one speed, fast or slow for long periods of time."
"Do not brake hard, as this may form permanent groves in your rotor causing premature brake pad wear"
That was about it.
NO WHERE in the owners manual, does it list a numerical # of miles that you must drive to break the car in.
Of course, they assume most people able to afford/drive this car are not complete.. I say..complete morons...and you should not redline from day one.
I just hit 500 miles on my 09 SS today! up until this point, my car didn't see over 4k RPMs. Coming home today however, I had a very very long entrance ramp to the interstate, with a very long straight away... and it was clear. I took 2nd and 3rd gear up to about 5k RPMs and 4th to about 4K. Thats most I have gotten on it.
After 500 miles, I would say taking your car to the track is fair game and not going to hurt it anymore than racing a car normally would.
Drag racing> your car.
Senior Member
Joined: 03-18-08
Posts: 998
Likes: 0
From: Plainfield, IL
Lets clear some **** up straight from the Owners manual...not word for word cuz Im going off memory.. but close enough to quote-
in bigger, bold font- "This car does not have an extensive break in period"
"Do not drive the car any one speed, fast or slow for long periods of time."
"Do not brake hard, as this may form permanent groves in your rotor causing premature brake pad wear"
That was about it.
NO WHERE in the owners manual, does it list a numerical # of miles that you must drive to break the car in.
Of course, they assume most people able to afford/drive this car are not complete.. I say..complete morons...and you should not redline from day one.
I just hit 500 miles on my 09 SS today! up until this point, my car didn't see over 4k RPMs. Coming home today however, I had a very very long entrance ramp to the interstate, with a very long straight away... and it was clear. I took 2nd and 3rd gear up to about 5k RPMs and 4th to about 4K. Thats most I have gotten on it.
After 500 miles, I would say taking your car to the track is fair game and not going to hurt it anymore than racing a car normally would.
Drag racing> your car.
in bigger, bold font- "This car does not have an extensive break in period"
"Do not drive the car any one speed, fast or slow for long periods of time."
"Do not brake hard, as this may form permanent groves in your rotor causing premature brake pad wear"
That was about it.
NO WHERE in the owners manual, does it list a numerical # of miles that you must drive to break the car in.
Of course, they assume most people able to afford/drive this car are not complete.. I say..complete morons...and you should not redline from day one.
I just hit 500 miles on my 09 SS today! up until this point, my car didn't see over 4k RPMs. Coming home today however, I had a very very long entrance ramp to the interstate, with a very long straight away... and it was clear. I took 2nd and 3rd gear up to about 5k RPMs and 4th to about 4K. Thats most I have gotten on it.
After 500 miles, I would say taking your car to the track is fair game and not going to hurt it anymore than racing a car normally would.
Drag racing> your car.
http://www.gm.ca/media/owners/manual...nual_en_CA.pdf
Check out page 95 of that PDF...
Member
Joined: 05-26-08
Posts: 360
Likes: 0
From: Twinsburg, OH
Has anyone got an electronic copy of the 2009 owners manual? I've been searching the damn Owner's Dashboard for 20mins and have not located it yet. I'm pretty sure the 2008 and 2009 manuals are different, not in break in procedure, but in order and overall content.
Just wanted something to read at work. Lemme know if anyone found it.
Just wanted something to read at work. Lemme know if anyone found it.